Dasuki Objects To Secret Trial, As FG Files Fresh Charges

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The former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (Rtd), has objected an appeal for a secret trial in the criminal charges of unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering preferred against him.

At the resumed trial of Colonel Dasuki on Monday, the Federal Government (FG) applied to a Federal High Court in Abuja for a secret trial while also filing additional four fresh charges against the former NSA.

The charges now include alleged retention of funds which formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of money laundering for which the former NSA pleaded not guilty.

Besides the appeal for a secret trial, the FG is also seeking witness protection for all its witness in the suit.

“Harmless To The Witnesses”

The prosecution sought orders to direct that the names and address of all its witnesses should not be disclosed in any record or report of proceedings that may be accessible to the public and that the witnesses be permitted to use pseudo name in the course of proceedings.

The prosecution also asked that the witnesses be granted access to a non-public route to and from the court premises.

It also asked the court not to allow any member of the public to witness the trial, apart from lawyers and accredited journalists, asking that the witnesses be permitted to wear facial masks while giving evidence against the former NSA.

However, Counsel to the accused, Mr Joseph Daudu, asked the court to dismiss the application for lacking merit and for being frivolous.

Mr Daudu told Justice Ademola that the names of the witnesses were already in the public domain at the instance of the prosecution, adding that the application was a mere academic exercise that should not be granted by the court.

He said: “We consider the trial as harmless to the witnesses. If you make the witnesses anonymous then we may lack the ability to conduct background checks. Even trial of treasonable felony and coup d’tat the witnesses are not hidden and we are in a democracy.

“Also for the fact that there has not been cases in this court where witnesses are being molested and in this cases it will be a case of injustice if the defence counsel and witnesses are known and the prosecution witnesses who are armed and can protect themselves are shielded. I think all the motions and counter-affidavit have been charged and this is purely an academic exercise”.

Part of the charges include possession of illegal fire arms, retention of $40,000, $20,000 and five million Naira, said to be proceeds of unlawful acts.

He is also accused of being in possession of $150, 000 and over 37 million Naira in his residence in Sokoto.

Meanwhile Mr Dasuki has also filed an appeal seeking the release of his travel documents.

Ruling in all the application will be delivered on Wednesday, October 28.